Stirling, Maj. Gen. Lord, Quarters
Also known as: Homestead Farm; Echo Valley Farms
Why it's listed
Stone farmhouse complex at Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania, built in several stages from the 1730s onward. The west section was probably begun before 1739 as a one-room, one-story house, the central section is dated to 1769, and the west section was later deepened into two rooms and given a full second story. The three sections are plastered stone with medium gable roofs. Original features that survive include cooking fireplaces, early doors and windows, moulded chair rails, wainscot and two stair closets. A bakehouse, a springhouse and an outbuilding stand on the site. The property is significant for its association with Major General Lord Stirling, a general in George Washington's army, who occupied the house during the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. Stirling also fought in the New York campaign and at the Battle of Brandywine. The complex is valued as a record of eighteenth-century Pennsylvania farm life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is an excellent example of an eighteenth-century mid-Atlantic farm that shows its evolution through successive additions. It also argues the property is historically important because Major General Lord Stirling, a general in Washington's army, occupied it during the 1777-78 winter at Valley Forge, and because it records early Pennsylvania farm life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74000283, listed February 15, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Valley Forge on Yellow Springs Rd., Valley Forge |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | February 15, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000283 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C1738 1769 1791 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1926 renovation was carried out under the direction of Boyle Irwin, and the enclosed entry on the front porch was added in the 1930s. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Within district | Valley Forge National Historical Park |
| Coordinates | 40.08453, -75.46247 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74000283.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6737284
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.